The Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project is hosting an open house Thursday to gather public input on U.S. Forest Service plans for 17,430 acres west of Tumalo Falls.

The area, named the “Drink Planning Area” by the Forest Service, lies between Tumalo Falls and Todd Lake, and includes the Bend municipal watershed; Tumalo Mountain; and North Fork Tumalo, Metolius-Windigo, Flagline and South Fork Tumalo trails, according to an announcement by the forest project.

The open house is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Deschutes County Services Building, 1300 N.W. Wall St., in Bend.

“We are looking forward to hearing what the public has to say about this important place,” said Kevin Larkin, district ranger for the Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. “We will incorporate the information we gather at this phase into our proposed action and future analysis.”

The area is “highly prized;” the forest collaborative plans to incorporate public input into its recommendations to the national forest, according to an announcement.

“The forest has committed to incorporate the recommendations of the DCFP to the maximum extent possible,” according to a news release from the collaborative.

For more information on the project and to become involved, call Mary Orton at 702-210-9642 or Mary@MaryOrton.com. To find out more about the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, visit www.deschutescollaborativeforest.org.